Law enforcement will be conducting a significant crackdown on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in southern Arizona starting next week.
Dubbed “Operation Southern Shield,” the enforcement initiative will run from Monday, February 19, 2024, to Friday, February 23, 2024. It will cover stretches of I-10 from Phoenix to the New Mexico border and I-19 from Tucson to the international boundary, as announced by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS).
The main aim of this operation is to reduce accidents involving commercial vehicles.
Over the course of the five-day operation, more than 80 inspectors specialized in commercial vehicle enforcement will be deployed along I-10 and I-19.
These inspectors will focus on enforcing safety regulations for motor carriers, particularly concerning driver qualifications, adherence to hours of service, and ensuring overall safe operations.
“Inspectors and enforcement officers will target hazardous moving violations, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations while conducting commercial vehicle inspections to ensure commercial drivers and vehicles comply with commercial vehicle regulations and state laws. Non-commercial vehicles that are operating unsafely around commercial vehicles will also be stopped,” AZDPS said.
The agencies involved in this initiative include the Arizona Commercial Vehicle Safety Partnership, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, along with local law enforcement such as the Tucson Police Department and the Marana Police Department.
